Joints and bones can wear down over time, which is why people often opt for surgery. If your joint, spine, foot, or ankle pain is interfering with your daily activities, sometimes you have no choice but to opt for surgery.
Specialty Treatment Areas
An orthopedic surgeon in Pensacola, FL specializes in a number of areas, including the following:
- Joint restoration and preservation
- Sports medicine
- Minimally invasive procedures
- Foot and ankle treatments
- Knee and leg reconstruction and repair
- Hand and upper extremity treatments
- Shoulder repair
- Hip transplant and repair
- Spine therapy
SI Joint Fusions
Today, an orthopedic surgeon performs a variety of minimally invasive procedures. For example, sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion is performed using fluoroscopy. This procedure is designed to reduce lower back pain or referred pain that is caused by an instability of the SI joint. The procedure stabilizes the joint by affixing it to the pelvic area. By using this technique, the joint cannot be overextended.
Why the Procedure Is Preferred
This procedure is often performed by an orthopedic surgeon because it offers a faster recovery time and can be done on an outpatient basis. To proceed with the therapy, no bone grafts are needed.
PRP Therapy
Orthopedic physicians also recommend the use of platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy for their orthopedic patients. This treatment plan is often advised as it is non-surgical. Instead, an injection of the patient’s own blood is administered to the treatment site. PRP injections are shown to alleviate both chronic and acute pain while accelerating the healing of injured joints or tissues.
Conditions that can benefit from PRP injections include osteoarthritis of the hip and spine, ligament tears or sprains, and cartilage damage. PRP therapy is also used for lumbar disc augmentation, and this type of therapy is often undertaken by athletes who are suffering from tendon injuries or sprains. PRP injections are used to supplant traditional remedies, including physical therapy, surgery, and pain medications.
If you would like to learn more about how orthopedic treatments can benefit you, contact Panhandle Orthopaedics. If you are suffering from joint or back pain, make an appointment to see how you can benefit from an orthopedic treatment, procedure, or therapy.
